One-Year Changes in Optic Nerve Head Parameters in Recovered COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose was to evaluate the changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and vessel density (VD) in post-COVID-19 patients during 12-month follow-up. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients with COVID-19 who were attended in the Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid, Spain) were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, optic nerve head optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA) using the Cirrus HD-OCT 5,000 with AngioPlex OCTA 1, 3, and 12 months after laboratory-confirmed diagnosis. Sociodemographic data, medical history, disease severity, and laboratory workup were registered. RESULTS: A total of 180 eyes of 90 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included; the mean age was 55.5 ± 8.9 years, and 46 patients (51%) were females. The mean visual acuity was 0.76 ± 0.16, and no abnormalities attributable to SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the ocular or fundus examination. No differences in the OCT and OCTA data were found between severity groups in each visit (all P > 0.05). Overall, there was a decrease in RNFL global thickness ( P < 0.001) from the first to the last visit, and an increase in VD and flux index was noted in some sectors at the 12-month examination. A significant correlation was detected at 12 months between vascularization parameters and RNFL thickness. CONCLUSIONS: One year after SARS-CoV-2 infection, changes in peripapillary RNFL thickness and vascularization occur, possibly indicating a recovery in such parameters.

Evaluation of a Novel Αb Εxterno MicroShunt for the Treatment of Glaucoma.

The surgical management of glaucoma has been revolutionized by the introduction of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). The various MIGS options aim to meaningfully lower intraocular pressure with a better safety profile than traditional glaucoma surgery. The key clinical attributes and the emerging potential of an ab externo MicroShunt (PreserFlo™) are reviewed in the context of published evidence and clinical experience. This novel MicroShunt consists of an 8.5-mm-long tube that is implanted in the eye via an ab externo approach enabling aqueous humor drainage into the sub-Tenon's space through the formation of a bleb, similar in appearance to that created by trabeculectomy. The efficacy and safety of this procedure, the concomitant use of antimetabolites, the impact of tube positioning, and its future value in clinical practice are critically reviewed. Recent evidence has demonstrated the MicroShunt to be less effective than traditional filtration surgery, but with a significant improvement in safety. Cumulative data suggest that the new implant provides tangible clinical benefits to selected patients with glaucoma in need of further intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering. Future research should delineate the precise role of this and other MIGS options in the rapidly evolving glaucoma treatment algorithm.

Safety and Effectiveness of the PRESERFLO® MicroShunt in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Results from a 2-Year Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of the PRESERFLO® MicroShunt (formerly InnFocus MicroShunt) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: The MicroShunt, a controlled ab externo glaucoma filtration surgery device, was investigated in a 2-year, multicenter, single-arm study. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible patients were aged 18-85 years with POAG inadequately controlled on maximal tolerated medical therapy with intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥18 and ≤35 mmHg or when glaucoma progression warranted surgery. METHODS: The MicroShunt was implanted as a stand-alone procedure with adjunctive use of topical mitomycin C (MMC; 0.2-0.4 mg/ml) for 2-3 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary effectiveness outcome was IOP reduction and success (not requiring reoperation or pressure failures [IOP > 21 mmHg and < 20% reduction in IOP]) at year 1. Additional end points at year 2 included IOP reduction, success, glaucoma medications, adverse events (AEs), and reoperations. Results are reported in the overall population and subgroups of patients receiving 0.2 or 0.4 mg/ml MMC. RESULTS: In 81 patients, mean (± standard deviation [SD]) IOP decreased from 21.7 ± 3.4 mmHg at baseline to 14.5 ± 4.6 mmHg at year 1 and 14.1 ± 3.2 mmHg at year 2 (P < 0.0001). Overall success (with and without supplemental glaucoma medication use) at year 1 was 74.1%. Mean (± SD) number of medications decreased from 2.1 ± 1.3 at baseline to 0.5 ± 0.9 at year 2 (P < 0.0001), and 73.8% of patients were medication free. Most common nonserious AEs were increased IOP requiring medication or selective laser trabeculoplasty (25.9%) and mild-to-moderate keratitis (11.1%). There were 6 (7.4%) reoperations and 5 (6.2%) needlings by year 2. In an analysis (post hoc) according to MMC concentration, overall success was 78.1% (0.2 mg/ml) and 74.4% (0.4 mg/ml; P = 0.710). In the 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml MMC groups, 51.9% and 90.3% of patients were medication free, respectively (P = 0.001). There was a trend toward lower IOP and higher medication reduction in the 0.4 mg/ml MMC subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, mean IOP and glaucoma medication reductions were significant and sustained over 2 years postsurgery. No long-term, sight-threatening AEs were reported. Further studies may confirm potential risk/benefits of higher MMC concentration.

Optic Nerve Head Vessel Density Assessment in Recovered COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

PRECIS: Vascular diseases have been linked to alterations in optic nerve head perfusion. PURPOSE: The main objective was to investigate the changes in peripapillary vessel density (VD) in post coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: In this prospective pilot exploratory study, patients with COVID-19 that were attended in the Emergency Department of Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid) were included. All patients underwent optic nerve head optical coherence tomography angiography using the Cirrus HD-OCT 500 with AngioPlex OCTA (Zeiss, Dublin, CA) 4 and 12 weeks after diagnosis by positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test from nasopharyngeal swab at the Emergency Department. Sociodemographic data, medical history, disease severity, and laboratory work-up were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty eyes of 90 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were included. None of the patients reported visual changes. Severe patients were older, more frequently hispanic, dyslipidemic, and presented lower lymphocytes counts, as well as increased ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and international normalized ratio levels. No changes in optic nerve head vascularization were observed when both visits were compared. No correlation was found between VD and clinical parameters, disease severity and laboratory work-up. CONCLUSIONS: Changes to peripapillary VD were not observed in patients with COVID-19 in the early months following diagnosis.

Structural and biomechanical corneal differences between patients suffering from primary congenital glaucoma and healthy volunteers.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a set of ocular morphometric and biomechanical variables are able to discriminate between healthy volunteers and patients suffering from primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). METHODS: Case-control study in which 66 patients with PCG and 94 age-matched healthy subjects were evaluated using ocular response analyser (ORA) to record corneal biomechanical properties. Topographic corneal variables were obtained using the Pentacam in both groups. To determine the ability to discern between both groups, a multivariate binary logistic model was constructed. The outcome was the diagnosis of PCG and the predictors; the corneal variables analysed along with their first-term interactions. Sensitivity and specificity of this model along with the area under the receiver characteristic operating curve (AUC of ROC) were determined. RESULTS: The best model to discriminate between both groups included the following predictors: corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), posterior maximum elevation (PME), anterior maximum elevation (AME) and central corneal thickness (CCT). This model, for a cut-point of 50%, presents a sensitivity of 86.67%, a specificity of 86.89% and an AUC of the ROC curve of 93.16% [95% confidence interval (CI): 88.97-97.35]. The adjusted odds ratios of those predictors which showed a significant discriminating capacity were as follows: for CH, 0.27 (95% confidence interval: 0.15-0.46); for CRF, 2.13 (95% CI: 1.33-3.40); for PME, 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01-1.12); and for AME, 1.35 (95% CI: 1.10-1.66). CONCLUSION: Corneal hysteresis (CH), CRF, PME and AME are able to discern between patients with PCG and healthy controls. This fact suggests that there are structural and biomechanical differences between these groups.

Nonorganic visual loss and associated psychopathology in children.

PURPOSE: To report the frequency of nonorganic visual loss (NOVL) and associated psychopathology in children. METHODS: A total of 973 children were examined in our ophthalmology practice between 2006 and 2009. Basic ophthalmologic exploration (visual acuity, stereopsis, cycloplegic refraction, ocular motility, pupil dynamics, biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy) and specific tests for NOVL diagnosis were performed (confusion with lenses test, mirrors test, Roth test, Bravais test). We also investigated the psychosocial situation and associated psychiatric problems. RESULTS: Thirty children were diagnosed with NOVL. The mean age of the children was 8.93 years (± 2.61); 70% were girls. September was the commonest month of presentation (26.7%) and unilateral (3.3%) or bilateral (80%) visual loss was the most frequent symptom (83.3% in total). In 20% of cases we detected psychosocial anomaly and 40% were seeking to wear glasses. CONCLUSIONS: Malingering in children is very frequent. We can make the diagnosis with simple tests. It is not necessary to perform imaging and electrophysiologic testing, thus avoiding unnecessary examinations as well as absenteeism from work for parents and health care costs.